Sarah Sutherland

I moved from Australia to the UK when I was 10 years old, and attended two selective secondary schools in Kent, England. Upon completion I initially planned to pursue a BSc in Human Biology as a pathway into medical school: as a cohort of academic high achievers, it was instrinically expected, like an unspoken rule, that we would all become highly successful lawyers, doctors or scholars.

In 2005, I graduated from King’s College London with a BSc (Honours) in Human Biology and Biomedical Science. Shortly thereafter, I secured a position as a Technical Medical Writer and Research Executive, working very long days writing copy for major pharmaceutical companies – leaflets, brochures, slide presentations, journal articles – you name it! I honed my skills in data manipulation to maximise big pharma sales, and became accustomed to not being acknowledged as an author in numerous publications — an accepted consequence of being a ghostwriter in a highly competitive market. It did not take long for me to realise that this line of work did not align with my personal values, and after some soul-searching, I decided to return to Australia.

Initially, I worked as a Medical Scientist in a pathology lab in Fremantle. However, the mining boom caught my attention, and in late in 2006 I saw an advertisement in the West Australian newspaper that sparked my interest. I took a chance and applied for the DIDO Shift Laboratory Analyst position at BHP Billiton’s Worsley Alumina. The following week I was invited to attend an interview, and, in a significant pivot from my original career plan, I joined their Process Chemistry Research and Development team. As they needed me to begin on very short notice, they even threw in a house on the beach for the year that the pilot plant was operating and for the first time in a long time, I felt truly valued.

I vividly remember that first-ever site induction, being the only female in a room full of men. I will never forget being told: “Make sure your ID number is written inside your hard hat, because if you fall into a tank of caustic, that’s the only part of you that will survive for us to identify you”. I was equal parts terrified and excited: I couldn’t wait to get stuck in!

This role was a pivotal moment in my career, laying the foundation for everything that followed. I worked with an exceptional team and gained extensive knowledge. I developed analytical and metallurgical lab and instrument skills, learned about plant processes and their adaptation for pilot plants, and embraced the stringent health and safety culture of the mining industry. Most importantly, I loved getting hands-on and dirty out in the plant, witnessing everything in action.

Once the pilot plant project concluded, I moved to Perth and joined Alcoa’s Kwinana Alumina Refinery mining lab. I soon transitioned into the Refinery Lab on their 12-hour roster, working out on the plant “with the big boys” collecting samples, reporting issues, and always learning more about the process. When a position for a Process Controller opened, I thought it sounded fascinating; however, my interest was laughed at, with comments from a colleague about a female’s inability to succeed in the role.

Those comments really bothered me, and I felt that I needed to show the world that being a woman has no impact on someone’s ability to succeed in a role that they are qualified for and deserving. Spurred on by this incident, I enrolled for postgraduate studies in Metallurgy and Metallurgical Engineering at the Western Australian School of Mines. The very next week.

An opportunity at Amdel (now Bureau Veritas) as a Lab Supervisor for a copper pilot plant was another exciting chapter. The hands-on experience was invaluable, and I thrived on setting up a lab from scratch, training users of the analytical instruments, and working on the plant. I still treasure my piece of the first cathode plate that we produced, which I was awarded at the end of the project. When I became pregnant with my daughter in 2011, I transitioned to a QHSE role until my son was born in 2013, when I took a career break.

In 2015, I became seriously mentally unwell and spent months at a time in hospitals undergoing various aggressive treatments and therapies, none of which were effective. As a result, I suffered two years of memory loss and all my basic functioning abilities and was facing a very bleak prognosis; it was a very challenging time for everyone. Fortunately, in 2018 an incredible consultant who specialised in “complex, treatment-resistant” cases identified a misdiagnosis and revised my treatment plan, leading to a very slow but nonetheless miraculous recovery after four years of darkness.

I slowly regained control of my life and took the time to rebuild my abilities to function again as an adult, a woman, and a mother. I ended my unhappy marriage and became certified in Counselling. I continue to share my experiences openly and honestly, in the hope that it may help others feel comfortable discussing their struggles. Due to my personal experience, I vowed to always be a voice, and a listening ear, for those who are lost in the dark, even if it means I just sit quietly with them, as I know how heavy that burden can be to carry alone.

In 2020, as a newly single mother, fragile but more stubborn and determined than ever, I knuckled down and completed my postgraduate studies and returned to work as a part-time Instrument Technician at Metallurgy Pty Ltd. It took me a while to adapt to working again and accepting that I was different now, but I soon found my new groove and pushed forward. A pilot plant project popped up and I transitioned from being part-time to 12-hour shifts, then there was another pilot plant, and another, and customers started requesting that I worked on their projects – my confidence soared with the recognition I received from our customers. My skills, determination and resilience had started to pay off.

In 2022 Brunel head-hunted me for a FIFO position at FMG as Leading Hand in their Christmas Creek Met Lab. I was working on a 2:1 roster and even though it was very hard work, with long hours in extreme conditions, I loved it. I thrived on the mateship of my crew, the challenges that popped up every day and particularly enjoyed the nightshift radio banter towards the end of each swing when the entire crew were exhausted and mildly delirious. My AuADHD had become my super-power: when I was on-site, I only had to focus on work, and when I was on R&R, I could afford to truly focus my children. FMG offered me a shirt and I was looking forward to a long career with them, however ultimately, I had to leave this role to prioritise my children after an unexpected change in personal circumstances. My 2 beautiful children will always be my #1 priority, so as heartbreaking as it was to quit FIFO I have no doubt that it was 100% the right decision.

I joined Metso Outotec (now Metso) as a Testwork Engineer in January 2023. At Metso, I work with a brilliant team of engineers, and we are part of a broader team of experts. Each one of us is a link in the chain that grows from the first inkling of a customer’s idea and producing the data they need to realise it, right through to the delivering, commissioning and servicing the equipment in full scale plants. Every day I learn from colleagues at every level of the organisation, as each person has their own experience and knowledge to share, and I appreciate honest and open discussions where different perspectives and opinions are welcomed.

I mainly conduct dewatering testwork at Metso’s brand-new Perth Technology Centre in Perth now, but also travel to customer and third-party sites, enjoy meeting clients, undertaking unusual or challenging testwork, gaining knowledge and confidence along the way. I am truly proud to invite customers to come out here and see the site, people, and processes that we employ to generate our top-class results and recommendations. The beauty of this role is the variety of work, it isn’t ‘just’ iron ore, or copper, or alumina – it’s all of those and more! You can never become complacent or assume that a material will behave the way you think it will – I have learned to expect the unexpected, assume nothing!

Metso is a special place to work – I feel very lucky to work for a family-flexible company where I am safe to be myself. I love celebrating the successes of my colleagues, and to see the team growing and thriving, supported with strong leadership. In September 2023, I travelled to Finland for the Global Filtration Testwork Training at the Metso Dewatering Technology Center in Lappeenranta, which was a very enriching personal and professional experience that I am so grateful for. I can honestly say I’ve never sat half-naked in a sauna drinking ‘long drinks’ with senior leadership and then jumped in a near-frozen lake on any other business trip!

In 2024, I won a scholarship to attend the Women Leaders Institute’s ‘Women in STEMM Leadership Summit’ in Naarm (Melbourne), with the theme ‘Empowering Change to Break the Bias”. I was thrilled that Metso actively supported my attendance. There were many excellent keynote speakers and fascinating discussion panels, and I left feeling empowered to continue defying the existing stereotypes, to advocate for under-represented groups and to champion change in STEM.

The summit opened my eyes to the challenges of attracting and retaining women in STEM professions, and I was surprised to learn how unconscious societal bias affects children from as young as 3 years old. As a result, girls are significantly less likely to choose STEM subjects in high school or university, ultimately leading to less women in STEM careers. With substantial research proving that diverse workforces experience greater business success; it is critical for companies to accelerate change by undertaking actionable strategies to attract and retain employees from all under-represented and culturally diverse groups.

As an Ambassador for the Metso Women’s Leadership Forum, I strive to lead by example every day. Between testwork projects, I collaborate with Metso’s HR team to promote Metso at graduate expos and events. I am also developing an industry-high school initiative to role model my position, and foster interest in STEM careers in young people from a diverse range of backgrounds. The aim is to plant the seed in their minds that ‘someone like me’ could consider a STEM career if it ignites their interest and curiosity. I want every student who participates to know that they can pursue a career in STEM if that’s what they are interested in, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, cultural background, religion, beliefs, or disability. This initiative is fully supported by my Metso leadership team, and we are preparing to launch in Q4 2025.

I have been fortunate to have Lizelle Masson (VP, HR Asia Pacific) as my Metso Mentor for the past six months. Her patience, compassion, and wisdom have been invaluable, and I am integrating her insights into all aspects of my life. I am deeply grateful for her support.

“We rise by lifting others”.

I prioritize integrity, resilience, and staying true to my values in all personal and professional decisions. Respecting and valuing every individual I meet has been instrumental in building relationships and networking throughout my career. I believe in owning my mistakes, asking for help when needed, and speaking up when something feels wrong. Resilience is a strength in this industry as well as clear, honest and effective communication, and a sense of humour.

My leadership philosophy is principle-based, founded on fairness, kindness, respect, honest, integrity, service and contribution. To me, effective leadership is recognising and communicating others’ worth and potential with such clarity that they are inspired to see it in themselves. As Stephen Covey said, ”If you want your flowers to grow, you have to water them.”

A good leader:

• Practices principle-based decision-making, acting with integrity and honesty, while remaining responsible and accountable.
• Serves as an anchor for their team through both good and difficult seasons.
• Fosters a psychologically safe workplace where individuals are encouraged to be themselves and celebrated for it.
• Encourages each team member to perform to the best of their abilities and acknowledges their achievements.
• Values and genuinely cares for their team members’ well-being, career paths, and productivity.
• Understands that two people can see the same thing, disagree, and yet both be right.
• Actively listens, values others’ knowledge, experiences, and ideas, and takes these into consideration before making decisions.

Women often exhibit modesty and lower confidence regarding their professional abilities and talents, with Imposter Syndrome being a common challenge. I encourage any woman reading this to advocate for herself, seek out a mentor or sponsor, and build a supportive network for professional development. Believe in your capability for a successful career and know that you deserve it. Take risks and be courageous—apply for roles that interest you, even if you don’t meet all the prerequisites or it means pivoting in a new direction.

As a woman starting with a new employer, I have sometimes felt extra pressure from colleagues with more traditional values to prove that I am an asset to the company and deserve the position, rather than being seen as a ‘token female.’ However, in my experience, once you perform well in a role and become a vaued member of your team, your colleagues will respect you and your contribution, regardless of your background.

You possess valuable skills, knowledge, and experience. Believe in yourself, promote your abilities, celebrate your achievements, and broadcast your talents. You have worked hard for this, and you deserve it.

Looking forward, I aim to continue building my technical knowledge and expertise, and become a leader in my field. Additionally, I aspire to hold a position where I can actively challenge biases and reshape the narrative around diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, to the point where D&I policies are no longer required and inclusivity is the norm.

My ultimate career goal is to create such a deeply embedded culture shift that our daughters, and our daughters’ daughters have the freedom and courage to pursue their passions, completely uninhibited by out-dated prejudices and opinions.

When I am not at work I am a mother, which means most of my time is spent cooking, cleaning, being a taxi for my kids’ hectic social lives, umpiring tee-ball games, managing soccer teams, cheering at netball games, and helping with homework. .

On the odd occasion that I get some time to myself, I enjoy freediving and scuba diving as an escape from our fast-paced world and to quiet my mind; I practice yoga, mindfulness and gratitudes to soothe my soul, keep me grounded and remind me of what truly matters; and I love live music and camping, which energise me and keep my sense of adventure and curosity alive. We are so fortunate to live in this beautiful country and even though we live chaotic, busy lives now, there is always somewhere new to explore, something new to learn, or something to fill you with joy, child-like wonder and awe – all you need to do is pause long enough to notice.